Down by P95B from July as govt settles P516B maturing domestic bond
The national government has trimmed its outstanding debt to P17.47 trillion as of end-August, down by P95.07 billion or 0.5 percent from July, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported on Tuesday.
The debt level fell after the government settled its biggest maturing domestic bond for the year worth P516.34 billion, while a stronger peso reduced the value of its foreign currency obligations.
Given the adjustment, the share of domestic debt rose to 69.2 percent of the total from 68.9 percent in July, a shift which the Treasury said improves the country’s debt profile with reduced exposure to foreign exchange swings.
The level of domestic debt has declined to P12.09 trillion, lower by P21.39 billion month-on-month, while external obligations have fallen to P5.38 trillion, down by P73.68 billion.
In the year-to-date, the government has raised P1.84 trillion in gross domestic financing, boosted by the strong take-up of Retail Treasury Bond Tranche 31 (RTB-31).
Guaranteed debt stood at P346.46 billion in August, down P6.51 billion on the back of peso gains, and accounted for just 2 percent of total borrowings.
The Treasury reaffirmed its commitment to “prudent debt management and responsible borrowing” to support growth objectives while keeping obligations sustainable.
